Will these actually look real?
From normal viewing distance, yes. Close up, the giveaways are always the same three things: flat saturated colour, stiff upright stems, and missing foliage or roots. We buy against all three. Muted dyes, wire cores you can bend, and orchids that ship with leaves and aerial roots rather than a bare spike.
Do I need to do anything when it arrives?
Depends on the piece. Potted items arrive finished, so you just put them down. Loose stems and large greenery ship compressed to protect them, and need shaping. Ten minutes with the palm fronds or the pampas plumes is the difference between convincing and obviously boxed.
How do I clean them?
Dust is the only enemy. A hairdryer on cool at arm's length works for pampas and palms. A damp cloth works for leaves and petals. Twice a year is plenty. Never put silk flowers in water.
Will they fade in a sunny window?
Far more slowly than the real thing, which is usually the point, but direct all-day sun will lift colour over a few years on any faux flower. If you have a very bright south-facing sill, rotate the piece occasionally.
Can I trim the stems?
Yes, on anything with a wire core, which is most of the loose stems. You need wire cutters, not scissors. Scissors will not cut the core and will ruin the blades trying.
My stems arrived bent or squashed.
Normal. They ship compressed. Bend them back and they hold, because that is what the wire core is for. If something has arrived genuinely crushed or snapped, email a photo within 7 days and we replace it at no cost, no return needed.
Do the pots have drainage holes?
The potted arrangements are sealed, since nothing in them needs water. The Woodland Figure planter has a removable plug in the base if you want to plant a real succulent into it instead.
Can I mix these with real flowers?
The hydrangea and the vintage silk stems are good for this. Two or three faux stems bulk out a thin real bunch and nobody notices. Do not put wire-core stems in water for long periods.
When does my order ship?
Picked and packed within 1–2 business days. Standard US delivery is 4–8 business days after dispatch. Track it on the Track My Order page.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, 7–16 business days. Large items such as the palm carry higher international rates because of box size rather than weight.
Still stuck?
Email support@thesmallplot.com or call +1 (870) 345-0042, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm Eastern Time. Describe the room and we will tell you honestly whether a piece will work in it.